STAR WARS WRITING RESOURCES

175

17th century doofuses

submitted by lobodragon

Uhm. Yes.

If Anakin left the Order and settled down on Naboo with Padmé and the twins: would they have more children?

Finished commission for the ever gracious, ever intrepid @fullmetaldanchou!

//So far I’ve only shown these four (nyo FACE) and here are their designs and heights :3 also a size comparison because why not

Dilemma-- Aaron Burr x sick!Reader

female pronouns. reader likes to pretend they aren't actually sick. sicfic.

Someday, when you were out of school and working your dream job, you would be able to take a sick day. A sick day where you could relax, take it easy, feel like crap and *not have to worry about studying and homework and projects due in three days.

Ah yes. Someday.

But today is, unfortunately, not that day. So far your day had been filled with skimming through your textbook, frantically taking notes in an effort to keep up with the class, hot tea, and multiple near-vomit incidents.

You had managed on your own so far, you had eaten, showered, swept and studied. All before lunch. Though you hadn't felt well enough to actually eat lunch...oh well.

You glance at the wall mounted clock from your position on the couch, *twelve twenty-four. Crap, Aaron was coming over for that study session in a bit. You re-did your hair and set your supplies on your ‘school shelf’ before brushing your teeth once more and changing out of your pajamas and into something a great deal more presentable.

You checked yourself over in the mirror, hopefully, now you could pass as someone who had left the house that day. Of course, Aaron wouldn't think any less of you for looking about as well as you felt, but maybe feeling fresh would help you focus...on the material, of course.

The doorbell rang right after you had finished organizing all the supplies you would need for the study jam. You opened the front door to the sight of Aaron standing there in sneakers, jeans, a light coat, and scarf, as well as a messenger bag slung over his shoulder.

“Hey, (Y/N).” It's a marvel how his smooth voice flowed with such composure and warmth even when uttering something as simple as an obligatory greeting.

You shook yourself out of your musings, “Hey, Aaron. Come right in.” You showed him to the dining room and had him sit as you got the pair of you bottles of water. You came back and set yourself down in the seat next to him, feeling hopeful for the first time that day that you might actually get some work done, and perhaps feel a bit better, but you were sure that was from the change of clothes.

The two of you got to it, divvying out chapters and taking notes, comparing and discussing information, then doing it all over again. The comfortable rhythm went on for about an hour or so, but you could feel yourself losing steam, and fast. It was fine though, all you had to do was make it through this next half hour- then Aaron would be gone and you could go back to letting yourself feel the full effects of the heaven forsaken illness in peaceful solitude.

Oh, no. Aaron didn't know you were sick. No one knew you were sick. Was it weird that you didn't want anyone to know? Maybe, but for some reason you preferred to ride it out alone than have people losing their heads over one little cold.

“Achoo!” Dang it, that was the third time in the past six minutes, any more and he might start suspecting something. And the ever-growing pile of tissues in the small trash can beside you was certainly not helping your case.

You took a swig of your water bottle, hoping to drown the coughing fit that was trying to force its way up your throat, your tiered frame shaking with the effort. The sudden drop in the rooms’ temperature was really prevalent now, when had that happened?

Rubbing your hands together and clenching your jaw, you focused on keeping your teeth from chattering on top of everything else. You risked a glance over at Aaron to see if he had picked up on your odd behavior yet. Nothing. He was still focused on his reading. Good. You yourself couldn't help but notice how peaceful he looked like that, the intent and purpose with which he studied, how relaxed he seemed sitting in the afternoon sun...

A shiver ran down your spine. It was even colder now, how? And why was Aaron unaffected?

Speaking of sneezes, you could feel a nasty one building up in your nose. Oh dear, not here, not now. But it was fine, you only had- you whipped your head up to check the time and your hope, like your gut, plummeted. --twenty-two minutes left.

Ok. So maybe you were doomed.

You grabbed the nearby throw blanket you had been resisting for the sake of attempted normality and pulled it tight around your now noticeably shivering frame.

You reached for another tissue, only for your hand to knock over an empty box.

Great.

The pressure in your nose was nearly at its peak. You shot up, nearly toppling your chair in a rush to make it to the kitchen where hopefully you still had some napkins left-

“ACHOO!” The sneeze was too much for your poor lungs and sent you into another coughing fit. You grabbed a couple paper towels from the counter and wiped off the snot and mucus that had escaped your nose and mouth.

You sigh. So much for your previous notion.

“(Y/N)? Are you ok?”

Crap.

You slowly turned around to find Aaron leaning against the kitchen doorway, concern shining through those warm brown eyes of his.

“Um, well,” you shuffled and looked down at your feet, mumbling a quiet “I guess I've been feeling a little off today.” that came out as more of a question.

“A little off?” He repeated, skeptical. “(Y/N), you're shaking like a leaf.” He moved further into the room.

“What? N-no. I’m totally-” your feeble protest was cut off by another violent sneeze.

Aaron raises an eyebrow. “You’re totally…?”

You scowl at his triumphant smirk. Which quickly slips away when the sneeze demons decide they’ve had enough of your lungs and would much prefer some sunshine.

Aaron sighed and put a hand on your shoulder. Steering you toward your bedroom. “Now, (Y/N), you’re going to your closet, throw some more layers on, curl up in bed, then sit around like a bum and let me take care of you.”

“What? No! You’re my guest! I can’t just let you-”

“And none of that BS. You can’t just pretend you actually follow proper social etiquette whenever it’s convenient.”

“Done it before and I’ll do it again.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. “Stay.” then he shut you in your room. “I’m making you some toast, ok?” you hear him call from the kitchen.

You opt to ignore him and rummage through your closet for a fresh sweater, your old one was three days worn and stinky, you had thrown it in the wash after your shower. Shame, it was the thickest sweater you owned.

Once bundled you paused. You could hear Aaron rummaging about the kitchen, he would probably take a few minutes. Perhaps you could sneak away while he was distracted? No, that wouldn’t do any good, he was still in your house. Plus, you didn’t feel like you could make it more than a block. You were too tired, too cold and too reluctant.

You laid down, sleep did sound rather inviting at the moment...but no. Not while Aaron was still here, it’d just give him an excuse to be right!

Moments stretch into minutes. Minutes that feel like hours. Despite the extra layers you’ve put on, the chill has only gotten worse. Creeping into your bones and mind. Dulling everything, until the only thing you can register is cold. So, so very cold. Even under your blankets and sweaters and sweat, even though the fever you know has jumped up, all you can feel is the cold.

Faintly, you hear the door creak open and Aaron’s voice penetrate the stillness. You can’t make out a word he says.

The bed dips next to you, a hand tucks the blankets in closed around your body and readjusts your pillows. It then moves to your forehead and seems to be displeased by what it finds, because it retreats for a minute or two. It appears again, this time shifting you into an upright position and placing a small cup into your hands, tipping it up toward your mouth till you start moving on your own accord.

The cup is drained. The hand takes it, soothing you back down into your previous position.

The hand retreats, and only then do you realize how good the heat it gave off felt.

You hand reaches out and finds the heat again. Finally, you’re able to fall asleep.

When you opened your eyes again the light streaming through the window was lower and warmer. Peeking through the blinds at a near horizontal level. Almost sunset, then. You felt, different. Somehow…

Oh.

The cold.

It was gone.

Relief and excitement sprang up in your gut, but not too much, as you were still very keen on enjoying the lulling pull of sleep on your limbs. The softness of the blankets and comfortable heat encompassing your body was enough to make you forget about the mild sheen of sweat clinging to your skin.

You shift just the slightest bit as you try and settle farther into the covers, but then you don’t. Because there was a kind of...weight. Resting on you. You then realize that the heat is coming from behind you, and there’s something wrapped around your waist. Shifting around as carefully as you could, you turn your head to look behind you.

Any leftover feelings of restfulness vanished. Your gut dropped like a stone and you struggled to resist the urge to leap out of bed.

Carefully, very carefully, you try and wiggle out of his grip. You’d almost removed his arm from where it was draped over your shoulders when he gave a small hum and pulled you back against his chest.

You held yourself still for a minute. Two minutes. Three; until you were sure he was asleep. Then you again attempted to move his arm off. Successful in that you moved onto the laborious process of inching ever so slowly out of the grip of your sleeping friend. You let out a small sigh of relief when you felt the floor underneath your toes as you placed a foot upon the ground. You gently placed a hand on the empty mattress to steady yourself and pushed off, slowly coming to stand in a semi-upright position. You had almost gotten your other foot off the bed when you felt it snag in the mounds of sheets. For a moment you could feel regret, panic, and dread churn your gut. And then you crashed into the floor.

You groan as pain courses through your hip, arm, and foot. The mattress groans and creaks as the weight on it moves. Aaron’s head peeked over the side of the bed, sunshine coating the ceiling above him.

“Holy- oh my goodness, (Y/N)?” He rolled off the bed and kelt at your side, offering a hand and pulling you up to your feet. “Are you okay?”

You murmur a quick confirmation, heat scorching your face, and not from a fever.

Once the two of you are standing, you think you see Aaron’s eyes linger on the bed, and then down to the ground where you had fallen, and then back to you as if he’s trying to figure out the parameters of the situation. When you see a flash of panic flicker in his eyes, you assume he has done so and busy yourself by staring at your sock-clad feet.

He clears his throat and your head shoots up. There’s a pause where the two of you avoid each other’s eyes almost religiously, and then he’s speaking again.

“So- uh, (Y/N)...you feeling any better?” He squirms for a moment as you try to regain some composure. When you finally murmur a quick affirmative he brightens a bit, straightening his shoulders and glancing back at the bed. “You uh..slept well, I hope?”

You looked back down at your socks. “Umm, yeah. Yeah, I slept just fine.”

“Great! That’s great, I just- well- uh. I should really get going right about now. Sorry we didn’t get much done,”

“No, no! I should be the one apologizing for that, really. But you’re right. You do have work about now, huh?”

Aaron nods, making one more visual sweep around the room before moving toward the exit. He stopped at the door, “Are you, uh, sure you'll be ok?”

“Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine.”

“Um, well I'm pretty sure both John and Angelica are off from work right about now, so if you need anything be sure to call them ok?” He said, shifting his weight between feet.

“Yeah, ok.”

“So...see you later?”

“Mhmm, see you later.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

Only when you hear the front door shut do you allow yourself to relax again.

It's not that you didn't like it; you did. And very much so. That was the problem. Aaron was your friend! Friend. And that's all he would ever be. You came to college to study and get an education, not to get a boyfriend or whatever. You didn't have time for all that lovey-dovey nonsense. You had more important things to do like…like...

“Uhg!” You rolled over, searching for your phone. There was no way you'd get any study or sleep done if you kept thinking about, well, that. It made your stomach flip. More than it had been.

You finally found your cell and unlocked it, pulling up one of your more frequently used contacts.

TheReal(Y/N): Jelly!

AngieChan: (Y/N)!

TheReal(Y/N): I have problem!

AngieChan: can u punch it???

TheReal(Y/N): no :(

AngieChan: darn.

AngieChan: but srsly, spill.

TheReal(Y/N): uhh…

TheReal(Y/N): well…

AngieChan: (y/n)...|:( ...what is it???

TheReal(Y/N): ok, so, Aaron came over for our study session but I wasn't feeling too well and he made me go lie down and take some medicine but I was really out of it (and cold) by then and when he tried to get up sleepy me must have wanted to steal his warm away and so we fell asleep like that and we only woke up like, ten minutes ago and now I'm really confused about what to do and how to handle this because whAT the heckerdoodles my life has suddenly turned into a cheesy rom-com o no o deer o golly helpmeAngelicaSchuylerurmyonlyhope.

AngieChan: ...

AngieChan: (y/n) do u… do u like Aaron?

TheReal(Y/N): what???

AngieChan: o and also u not feeling well? Why did I not kno?!?

TheReal(Y/N): no, Angelica, that does not help me in my current situation.

TheReal(Y/N): and sorry~ I didn't tell anyone I was sick so...

AngieChan: u sure? Abt the “not crushing on Aaron” thing, I mean.

TheReal(Y/N): what do u mean “u sure?” Of course I'm sure. I'm trying to figure out how to approach this with Aaron tomorrow -not whether my life is even more of a bad YA romance novel.

AngieChan: cuz, I was reading in between the lines just now and it almost sounds like u have a bit of a crush on him???

TheReal(Y/N): well of course I was a bit flustered I had just woken up snuggling the life out of one of my guy friends!

TheReal(Y/N): besides, how on earth did u come to that conclusion for my text?

AngieChan: I mean like, there's nothing wrong with having a crush u kno. I'm just a bit surprised.

TheReal(Y/N): jelly! Ur not helping!

AngieChan: don't get me wrong, I'm happy for u gurl, I've just never heard u talk about liking someone ya know?

TheReal(Y/N): omg. Angelica. What part of HELP do u not understand?

AngieChan: I really did not see this coming.

TheReal(Y/N): Angie.

AngieChan: Aaron, of all people.

TheReal(Y/N): Angelica.

AngieChan: actually I think you guys would make a great couple.

TheReal(Y/N): Angelica Schuyler.

AngieChan: wow I ship it.

TheReal(Y/N): k, first off. I do not have a crush on Aaron.

AngieChan: riiight.

TheReal(Y/N): second, you would be embarrassed about waking up like that too.

AngieChan: mhmm~

TheReal(Y/N)TheReal(Y/N): and third, you're making my headache worse I'm going back to sleep.

AngieChan: make sure to check for wild boyfriends;)

TheReal(Y/N): I hate u.

AngieChan: luv u 2 have a nice nap!

You smother your groan in your pillow. Talking to Angelica had not helped. At all. You checked the time. Six forty-three PM. The sun hadn't set yet… you debated getting out of bed to go make some rice or something.

Nah, food could wait till the morning, after you'd gotten a bit more rest.

You rolled out of bed (with great difficulty) and straightened the numerous blankets covering your mattress. Why were they so much more tangled than usua- oh. Yeah. Who knew cuddling messed up sheets so much?

You felt your face heat up. What on earth? Was your fever getting worse? Should you go to the doctor after all?

The heat in your cheeks subsided, did that mean your fever was getting better?

You were honestly too tired to care right now, the pull of sleep dominating all other thoughts. You could figure it all out tomorrow.

Yeah, tomorrow. When you weren't preoccupied with unhelpful friends and how much colder your bed felt without-

Nope. Nope. No no no. Sleep now, sleepy times, you're asleep. You're too exhausted to think right now.

And apparently, you were, because not a minute later you were out cold once again.

AN: So, yeah. That's the chapter… I'm debating whether I should write another chapter from Aaron's POV. Or whether I should write another part to this at all. Depends on the response I get for this one honestly.

But you probably don't care. Anyway, luv u lots!

                        XOXO- QueendomofCrows

Writing with Color: Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone

We discussed the issues describing People of Color by means of food in Part I of this guide, which brought rise to even more questions, mostly along the lines of “So, if food’s not an option, what can I use?” Well, I was just getting to that!

This final portion focuses on describing skin tone, with photo and passage examples provided throughout. I hope to cover everything from the use of straight-forward description to the more creatively-inclined, keeping in mind the questions we’ve received on this topic.

So let’s get to it.

S T A N D A R D  D E S C R I P T I O N

B a s i c  C o l o r s

Pictured above: Black, Brown, Beige, White, Pink.

“She had brown skin.”

This is a perfectly fine description that, while not providing the most detail, works well and will never become cliché.

Describing characters’ skin as simply brown or beige works on its own, though it’s not particularly telling just from the range in brown alone.

C o m p l e x  C o l o r s

These are more rarely used words that actually “mean” their color. Some of these have multiple meanings, so you’ll want to look into those to determine what other associations a word might have.

Pictured above: Umber, Sepia, Ochre, Russet, Terra-cotta, Gold, Tawny, Taupe, Khaki, Fawn.

Complex colors work well alone, though often pair well with a basic color in regards to narrowing down shade/tone.

For example: Golden brown, russet brown, tawny beige…

As some of these are on the “rare” side, sliding in a definition of the word within the sentence itself may help readers who are unfamiliar with the term visualize the color without seeking a dictionary.

“He was tall and slim, his skin a russet, reddish-brown.”

Comparisons to familiar colors or visuals are also helpful:

“His skin was an ochre color, much like the mellow-brown light that bathed the forest.”

M o d i f i e r s 

Modifiers, often adjectives, make partial changes to a word.The following words are descriptors in reference to skin tone.

D a r k - D e e p - R i c h - C o o l

W a r m - M e d i u m - T a n

F a i r - L i g h t - P a l e

Rich Black, Dark brown, Warm beige, Pale pink…

If you’re looking to get more specific than “brown,” modifiers narrow down shade further.

Keep in mind that these modifiers are not exactly colors.

As an already brown-skinned person, I get tan from a lot of sun and resultingly become a darker, deeper brown. I turn a pale, more yellow-brown in the winter.

While best used in combination with a color, I suppose words like “tan” “fair” and “light” do work alone; just note that tan is less likely to be taken for “naturally tan” and much more likely a tanned White person.

Calling someone “dark” as description on its own is offensive to some and also ambiguous. (See: Describing Skin as Dark)

U n d e r t o n e s

Undertones are the colors beneath the skin, seeing as skin isn’t just one even color but has more subdued tones within the dominating palette.

Mentioning the undertones within a character’s skin is an even more precise way to denote skin tone.

As shown, there’s a difference between say, brown skin with warm orange-red undertones (Kelly Rowland) and brown skin with cool, jewel undertones (Rutina Wesley).

“A dazzling smile revealed the bronze glow at her cheeks.”

“He always looked as if he’d ran a mile, a constant tinge of pink under his tawny skin.”

Standard Description Passage

“Farah’s skin, always fawn, had burned and freckled under the summer’s sun. Even at the cusp of autumn, an uneven tan clung to her skin like burrs. So unlike the smooth, red-brown ochre of her mother, which the sun had richened to a blessing.”

-From my story “Where Summer Ends” featured in Strange Little Girls

Here the state of skin also gives insight on character.

Note my use of “fawn” in regards to multiple meaning and association. While fawn is a color, it’s also a small, timid deer, which describes this very traumatized character of mine perfectly.

Though I use standard descriptions of skin tone more in my writing, at the same time I’m no stranger to creative descriptions, and do enjoy the occasional artsy detail of a character.

C R E A T I V E  D E S C R I P T I O N

Whether compared to night-cast rivers or day’s first light…I actually enjoy seeing Characters of Colors dressed in artful detail.

I’ve read loads of descriptions in my day of white characters and their “smooth rose-tinged ivory skin”, while the PoC, if there, are reduced to something from a candy bowl or a Starbucks drink, so to actually read of PoC described in lavish detail can be somewhat of a treat.

Still, be mindful when you get creative with your character descriptions. Too many frills can become purple-prose-like, so do what feels right for your writing when and where. Not every character or scene warrants a creative description, either. Especially if they’re not even a secondary character.

Using a combination of color descriptions from standard to creative is probably a better method than straight creative. But again, do what’s good for your tale.

N A T U R AL  S E T T I N G S - S K Y

Pictured above: Harvest Moon -Twilight, Fall/Autumn Leaves, Clay, Desert/Sahara, Sunlight - Sunrise - Sunset - Afterglow - Dawn- Day- Daybreak, Field - Prairie - Wheat, Mountain/Cliff, Beach/Sand/Straw/Hay.

Now before you run off to compare your heroine’s skin to the harvest moon or a cliff side, think about the associations to your words.

When I think cliff, I think of jagged, perilous, rough. I hear sand and picture grainy, yet smooth. Calm. mellow.

So consider your character and what you see fit to compare them to.

Also consider whose perspective you’re describing them from. Someone describing a person they revere or admire may have a more pleasant, loftier description than someone who can’t stand the person.

“Her face was like the fire-gold glow of dawn, lifting my gaze, drawing me in.”

“She had a sandy complexion, smooth and tawny.”

Even creative descriptions tend to draw help from your standard words.

F L O W E R S

Pictured above: Calla lilies, Western Coneflower, Hazel Fay, Hibiscus, Freesia, Rose

It was a bit difficult to find flowers to my liking that didn’t have a 20 character name or wasn’t called something like “chocolate silk” so these are the finalists. 

You’ll definitely want to avoid purple-prose here.

Also be aware of flowers that most might’ve never heard of. Roses are easy, as most know the look and coloring(s) of this plant. But Western coneflowers? Calla lilies? Maybe not so much.

“He entered the cottage in a huff, cheeks a blushing brown like the flowers Nana planted right under my window. Hazel Fay she called them, was it?”

A S S O R T E D  P L A N T S &  N A T U R E

Pictured above: Cattails, Seashell, Driftwood, Pinecone, Acorn, Amber

These ones are kinda odd. Perhaps because I’ve never seen these in comparison to skin tone, With the exception of amber.

At least they’re common enough that most may have an idea what you’re talking about at the mention of “pinecone.“ 

I suggest reading out your sentences aloud to get a better feel of how it’ll sounds.

“Auburn hair swept past pointed ears, set around a face like an acorn both in shape and shade.”

I pictured some tree-dwelling being or person from a fantasy world in this example, which makes the comparison more appropriate.

I don’t suggest using a comparison just “cuz you can” but actually being thoughtful about what you’re comparing your character to and how it applies to your character and/or setting.

W O O D

Pictured above: Mahogany, Walnut, Chestnut, Golden Oak, Ash

Wood can be an iffy description for skin tone. Not only due to several of them having “foody” terminology within their names, but again, associations.

Some people would prefer not to compare/be compared to wood at all, so get opinions, try it aloud, and make sure it’s appropriate to the character if you do use it.

“The old warlock’s skin was a deep shade of mahogany, his stare serious and firm as it held mine.”

M E T A L S

Pictured above: Platinum, Copper, Brass, Gold, Bronze

Copper skin, brass-colored skin, golden skin…

I’ve even heard variations of these used before by comparison to an object of the same properties/coloring, such as penny for copper.

These also work well with modifiers.

“The dress of fine white silks popped against the deep bronze of her skin.”

G E M S T O N E S - M I N E R A LS

Pictured above: Onyx, Obsidian, Sard, Topaz, Carnelian, Smoky Quartz, Rutile, Pyrite, Citrine, Gypsum

These are trickier to use. As with some complex colors, the writer will have to get us to understand what most of these look like.

If you use these, or any more rare description, consider if it actually “fits” the book or scene.

Even if you’re able to get us to picture what “rutile” looks like, why are you using this description as opposed to something else? Have that answer for yourself.

“His skin reminded her of the topaz ring her father wore at his finger, a gleaming stone of brown, mellow facades.” 

P H Y S I C A L  D E S C R I P T I ON

Physical character description can be more than skin tone.

Show us hair, eyes, noses, mouth, hands…body posture, body shape, skin texture… though not necessarily all of those nor at once.

Describing features also helps indicate race, especially if your character has some traits common within the race they are, such as afro hair to a Black character.

How comprehensive you decide to get is up to you. I wouldn’t overdo it and get specific to every mole and birthmark. Noting defining characteristics is good, though, like slightly spaced front teeth, curls that stay flopping in their face, hands freckled with sunspots…

G E N E R A L  T I P S

Indicate Race Early: I suggest indicators of race be made at the earliest convenience within the writing, with more hints threaded throughout here and there.

Get Creative On Your Own: Obviously, I couldn’t cover every proper color or comparison in which has been “approved” to use for your characters’ skin color, so it’s up to you to use discretion when seeking other ways and shades to describe skin tone.

Skin Color May Not Be Enough: Describing skin tone isn’t always enough to indicate someone’s ethnicity. As timeless cases with readers equating brown to “dark white” or something, more indicators of race may be needed.

Describe White characters and PoC Alike: You should describe the race and/or skin tone of your white characters just as you do your Characters of Color. If you don’t, you risk implying that White is the default human being and PoC are the “Other”).

PSA: Don’t use “Colored.” Based on some asks we’ve received using this word, I’d like to say that unless you or your character is a racist grandmama from the 1960s, do not call People of Color “colored” please. 

Not Sure Where to Start? You really can’t go wrong using basic colors for your skin descriptions. It’s actually what many people prefer and works best for most writing. Personally, I tend to describe my characters using a combo of basic colors + modifiers, with mentions of undertones at times. I do like to veer into more creative descriptions on occasion.

Want some alternatives to “skin” or “skin color”? Try: Appearance, blend, blush, cast, coloring, complexion, flush, glow, hue, overtone, palette, pigmentation, rinse, shade, sheen, spectrum, tinge, tint, tone, undertone, value, wash.

Skin Tone Resources

List of Color Names

The Color Thesaurus

Things that are Brown (blog)

Skin Undertone & Color Matching

Tips and Words on Describing Skin

Photos: Undertones Described (Modifiers included)

Online Thesaurus (try colors, such as “red” & “brown”)

Don’t Call me Pastries: Creative Skin Tones w/ pics 3 2 1

Writing & Description Guides

WWC Featured Description Posts

WWC Guide: Words to Describe Hair

Writing with Color: Description & Skin Color Tags

7 Offensive Mistakes Well-intentioned Writers Make

I tried to be as comprehensive as possible with this guide, but if you have a question regarding describing skin color that hasn’t been answered within part I or II of this guide, or have more questions after reading this post, feel free to ask!

~ Mod Colette

me.

*thinks a little too deep about clone troopers* 

Don’t armchair diagnose mass shooters and other killers. The misconception that all violent people must be mentally ill (and the following conclusion that all mentally ill people must be dangerous) has horrible real life consequences for visibly mentally ill people.

Schizophrenic people are 14 times more likely to be a victim of a violent crime than committing one because people assume that we’re homicidal and dangerous and may react very negatively to visibly mentally ill behavior, partly due to all the media portrayals of schizophrenics as violent killers.

50% of people killed by police are disabled or mentally ill (and the victims are disproportionately black or other people of color) because the unusual behavior of visibly disabled and visibly mentally ill people is read as inherently threathening and dangerous.

Please consider the real life consequences of reinforcing the association between mental illness and violence - people are dying because y'all want to blame all evil in the world on severe mental illness so that you can clearly separate yourself from it. You’re harming an already extremely vulnerable and marginalized group of people and it’s time to stop!